How Much Water Should I Drink Per Day?

February 23rd, 2018

It’s something that we do all the time, but often don’t pay attention to. Much like breathing, our water consumption is essential to life here in Denver Area. But how much water should you drink, based on your height and weight? That could vary. Furthermore, opinions also vary on what actually IS water. Let’s take a look.

Juices and sports drinks as water intake

Yes, usually. These count as hydrating yourself, but don’t have too much. The amount of sugar in these drinks can drive your blood sugar through the roof. Likewise, fruit juice does not have fiber and is missing many of the ingredients that makes eating fresh, whole fruit healthy. Many people swear by a glass of orange juice a day for its high vitamin C content and anecdotal ability to prevent the cold and flu. Recent research suggests this is not true.

Do coffee and tea count as water intake?

Maybe. The better question is, how much caffeine do you need to get through the day, and how often do you drink it? You can count these as intake to a point. Studies suggest more than three cups of coffee or tea per day can cause the diuretic effects of caffeine to tip the scales on the hydration and antioxidant benefits they have to offer. One thing to consider is how much you may consume regularly and within which period of time. Your body will self-regulate your caffeine intake with time and consistency, meaning that if you drink six cups of coffee regularly, your urine output will not increase beyond what it would regularly be in drinking six glasses of water.

What about the booze?

Unfortunately, the same can be said about alcohol, which is also a diuretic. Liquor is a major no-no for hydration (obviously), and while one beer might make you feel better,it decreases your production of anti-diuretic hormone that reabsorbs water.

So how much water should you drink per day? Establishing a simple baseline formula is easy if you know short division: Your weight x/2 = the amount of oz. of water per day recommended.

Looking for clean, fresh water to drink every day — at home or in the office? Call your local Culligan of Denver today!